VR Tech Times

GOOD FOR: Well equipped, easy to drive  LOOK OUT FOR: AMT gearbox health, electrical niggles The Hyundai Exter was launched in 2023 in the sub-compact SUV segment to rival the Tata Punch and Citroën C3 . The Exter stands out for its user-friendliness, lengthy equipment list and practicality, making it worth considering as a used buy. However, there are a few specifics worth knowing before you sign on the dotted line. Hyundai Exter powertrain and mileage 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol and CNG options The Exter comes with a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 83hp and 114Nm, and can be had with a 5-speed manual or an AMT auto gearbox. There’s even a CNG version, which puts out 69hp and 95.2Nm, available exclusively with the manual gearbox. In terms of fuel efficiency, the petrol MT is rated at 19.4kpl, while the petrol AMT is said to do 19.2kpl. The Exter CNG is claimed to do 27.1km/kg. The petrol manual is a smooth powertrain with a refined engine and...

I’m the kind of rider who prefers to travel light. Usually, a backpack with the bare essentials gets the job done. But living with the Triumph Scrambler 400 X has thrown up one inconvenience. There’s no proper tool kit on board; just an Allen key and a spanner under the seat, which is not reassuring once you start riding longer distances.The Trailpack immediately appealed to me for its simple and neat design.  Mounting and dismounting it is quick and hassle-free thanks to the integrated Velcro straps. On a bike like the Scrambler 400 X, the fit is secure, sitting snugly on the crossbar without interfering with steering movement or blocking the view of the instrument cluster. Additionally, what I appreciate is that it fits well with the crossbar foam protection. Once mounted, it was secured in place even when I hit a section of bad roads. With a total capacity of 1.2 litres, it is perfectly sized for a basic tool kit, which was my primary use case, but its versatility goes beyond...

The XSR 155 shares its engine and chassis with the popular R15 and MT-15 and Yamaha calls it a retro sport motorcycle. Meanwhile, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has a more relaxed nature and an old school vibe to it. They are both accessible motorcycles, with similar power figures and carry a similar price tag. Here is how the bikes fared in our performance tests. Yamaha XSR 155 vs Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Acceleration The XSR 155 is around 3.5 seconds quicker than the Hunter 350 in the 0-100kph sprint. Acceleration Yamaha XSR 155 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 0-60kph 4.29s 4.95s 0-80kph 7.02s 8.75s 0-100kph 11.66s 15.15s Despite the Hunter’s engine being more than twice the size, the XSR 155’s performance is a lot more potent. In our tests, The XSR got to 100kph in  just 11.66 seconds while the Hunter took 15.15 seconds. The XSR 155 with its Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) tech, likes to be revved out and has a lovely exhaust no...

There are moments on the road when emotion overrides expediency. I was in Nashville with a roadmap spread out over the hood, tracing the most direct route to Dallas through Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas, when I saw a small icon in Birmingham, Alabama. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, it read. I Googled it. The reviews were rapturous and almost religious in their fervour. One simply said, “If you love motorcycles, this is your Mecca.” I rerouted at once. Even though it meant a triangular detour through Alabama and Mississippi that added 200 miles to my original linear route. The dairy magnate who built a temple for two wheels To understand the Barber Museum is to understand the obsession of one man: George Barber. A successful dairy magnate from Birmingham, Barber was bitten by the racing bug early, competing in vintage racing throughout the 1960s. But his true passion crystallised into something more permanent – a collection that began modestly and metastasised into what is now ...

There’s a certain Jekyll and Hyde streak to the Porsche Taycan Turbo that defines high-performance EVs. One minute, it’s smoother than a big Merc in traffic, gliding along with barely a whisper. No engine fuss, no gearbox theatrics, no hesitation or lurch – just a calm, fluid way of dealing with the daily grind. As a city car, it’s almost disarming. That’s what makes the Taycan such a genuine daily driver. You don’t feel like you’re driving something highly strung or temperamental. Visibility is good, the driving position is spot on, and the ride – thanks to the standard-fit air suspension – is supple enough for broken city roads. The only real worry comes from its low ground clearance. Indian speed breakers pop out of nowhere, and I’ve found myself instinctively reaching for the nose-lift button more often than the volume control. On our roads, it’s survival equipment. A nice touch is the way the onboard computer can store the location of speed breakers and raise the suspension aut...

The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is one of the older models in the company’s portfolio but has its niche carved out, both in India and in overseas markets. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the Pulsar NS160 . What is the price of the Bajaj Pulsar NS160? The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is available in a single variant priced at Rs 1.21 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). What colours are available on the Bajaj Pulsar NS160? The Pulsar NS160 is offered in four paint schemes - red/white, grey/blue, black/red and white/red. Incidentally, these colours are the same as its elder sibling, the Pulsar NS200 . What engine does the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 use? The Pulsar NS160 is powered by an air-cooled, 160.3cc, single-cylinder engine making 17hp at 9,000rpm and 14.6Nm at 7,250rpm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox and isn’t shared with any other Bajaj motorcycle. What are the standout features of the Bajaj Pulsar NS160? The Pulsar NS160 has some feel-good features like a silver USD ...

It's no secret that Royal Enfield is working on a new 750cc parallel twin engine that will make its debut in the Continental GT 750 sometime in the third quarter of the calendar year. However, we can confirm that this bike will not replace the existing Continental GT 650. Continental GT 650 to get an upgrade in 2026 Continental GT 650 will be sold alongside new Continental GT 750 The Continental GT 650 has gone on to become RE’s most popular twin cylinder product and it has also attracted a much younger buyer base for the brand. Recent spy images have shown that the new Continental GT 750 will be a more premium product and Royal Enfield is likely to be positioning this bike towards a different group of customers. Given the RE GT 650’s popularity, Royal Enfield has decided not to discontinue it to make way for the new 750. Instead, the company will also give this bike a refresh in 2026, although that will happen after the 750 goes on sale. By that logic, expect to see the up...

MG has taken the wraps off the Majestor , its most rugged and largest SUV yet for the Indian market. Positioned above the Gloster, the Majestor is aimed at buyers looking for a full-size, ladder-frame SUV with strong road presence, a feature-rich cabin and off-road capability. Here’s everything you need to know about MG’s new flagship SUV. 1. When will the MG Majestor launch in India? Bookings are open; prices due in April Bookings for the MG Majestor are currently open at Rs 41,000. MG has confirmed that prices will be announced in April 2026, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in May 2026. The brand has also announced early-bird benefits for the first 3,000 customers, which include a 5-year/unlimited-kilometer warranty, 5 years of roadside assistance and a 5-year labour-free service package. 2. How many variants will the MG Majestor be available in? Four variants across 4x2 and 4x4 options MG has confirmed that four variant options will be available: Sharp 4x2 (7...

Global electric vehicle (EV) registrations fell 3 percent year-on-year in January 2026 to nearly 1.2 million units of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, according to data from consultancy Benchmark Mineral Intelligence and reported by Reuters.  China records its weakest monthly EV sales in almost two years US market sees sharp pullback as purchase incentives ease Europe posts growth, but at its slowest pace in about a year The decline was driven mainly by weaker demand in China and North America as policy changes and reduced subsidies weighed on sales globally. The slowdown also comes amid policy shifts in key EV markets. Both China and the European Union have rolled back or eased some regulations and incentives that had previously supported faster electric vehicle adoption, softening demand early in the year. At the same time, hybrid vehicles have gained ground in several regions, as buyers look for a middle path between conventional combustion engines and full EVs...

It has been quite a few months since our last report on the Transalp , and in that time, the bike has just turned one year old. I’m glad to report that there have been no issues with the bike, and it has performed very well as it approaches the 9,000km mark on the odometer.   Most of my usage has been on long rides, and I have done several trips to places like Bhuj, Badami, Panchgani, Daman, Dapoli, Lonavala, Nashik, Ratnagiri and more. I recently had the second service done at the 7,900km mark, and it was more expensive than I expected.  Accessing the air filter required removal of the fuel tank and even the TFT display.   Hondas generally have a very good reputation for service costs, so I was surprised to see that the service came up to around Rs 14,000. A big contribution to this was replacing the air filter, which itself costs Rs 7,078 with GST. There was also a Rs 2,124 service charge towards this (with GST), as replacing the air filter on the Transalp is a t...

The Maruti Fronx and Baleno are based on the same Heartect platform, but the former is a compact crossover while the latter a hatchback. In fact, with lot of parts sharing between both models, one can even consider the Fronx as a raised Baleno riding on stilts, which means buyers can inevitably end up cross shopping between the two. Looking specifically at their respective top variants, the key questions are straightforward. What powertrain options do they offer? How feature-rich are they? And how wide is the price gap between the two? Let's break it down across these key aspects before wrapping up with a conclusion. Maruti Fronx Alpha vs Baleno Alpha: Specs Maruti Fronx vs Baleno: Engine, gearbox and mileage Nexa model Fronx Baleno Variant Alpha Alpha Engine 1L turbo petrol 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol Cylinder count 3 4 Power 100hp 90hp Torque 148Nm 113Nm Gearbox 5MT/ 6AT 5MT/ 5AMT  Brand claimed mileage 21.5kpl (MT), 20.01kpl ...

BMW India is set to launch a new range-topping variant for the X3 , dubbed the ‘30 xDrive M Sport Pro’, in the coming days. It includes a stronger state of tune for the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol mild hybrid engine found in the existing X3 20 xDrive variant, as well as some sporty cosmetic enhancements. If you’re in the market for a BMW X3, we highlight the 30 xDrive M Sport Pro’s strengths and weaknesses to help guide your buying decision. BMW X3 30 xDrive pros Enhanced performance Among the notable pain points of the X3 20 xDrive was its 190hp and 310Nm output, which paled in comparison to its key rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 . To address that, the X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro increases the output to 258hp and 400Nm – 68hp and 90Nm up over the 20 xDrive and perfectly matches that of the GLC 300. This engine also packs a 48V mild hybrid system that assists torque delivery at lower speeds. As our X3 30 xDrive M Sport Pro review states, the power bump makes this SUV feel much punc...